Improvement in sleigh-brake



@einen grains @anni @frn H. W. SMITH, or naissance, rENNsYLvANIA, AND B. o. SM1-TH, or

ToLLEsToN, INDIANA.

Laim Pate-nv Nq. 69,717, daad october 8, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN SLEIGH-BRAKE.

To ALL WHOM Ir MAY ooNcERN:

Beit known that we, H. W. SMITH, of Rainsburg, in the county of Bedford,and State of Pennsylvania, and B. C. SMITH, of '.l.oll'es ton, in the county of-Lake, and State of Indiana, have invented a ncwj` and improved Sled-Brake; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and cxactdcsc'ription thereof, which will enable others skilledQin the art to' make 4and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying draw i ings, forming part of this specification, iu which- 4 Figure 1 is a bottom view cf a. sled to which our improved brake has been attached.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, taken through the line n: iig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate likeiparts. I

Our invention has for its object to furnish an improved sled-brake, simple in construction, effective in operation, and which will give to allow it to pass over obstructions; and it consists in the combination o f the brakeirons, operating-ropes, roller or pulleys, tongue-rope, and sliding-cord with each other; in the combination of the brake-irons,operating-ropes, roller or pulleys, and roller pivoted to the forward part of'thc sled-frame; in the combination of the brake-irons, operating-ropes,'roller'or pulleys, with the' roll'- and frame attached to the forward end of the sled-box; and in the combination of coiled springs with the brake-irons and operating-ropes; the whole being constructed and arranged as hereinafter more fully described.

A are the runners, B are the knees,'C are the beams, D are the raves, and E is the box of the sled, about the construction of which parts there is nothing new. F areV the brake-irons, which are made U-shaped, and which are pivoted to the runners A, near Atheir upper edges, in such positions that when turned'down their points may projectbelow the bearing surfaces of the runners, and so that when not in use they may lie along the upper edges of the runners out of the way. G are coiled wire springs, one end of which is secured to the upper ends of thebrake-irons F, and 'to the other ends of which areattached the ends ofthe operating-ropes H. If desired, the 'ends of the ropes H may be attached directly to the ends of the brake-irons F, the object of the springs being to prevent breakage by allowing the brakes to give when the projecting ends 'of the brake-irons strike against a solid obstruction. `The ropes H pass back and over a roller, S, or its equivalent, pivoted to the frame of the sled; they then pass forward'and terminatev in a loop or ring. When itis desired that the brake should be applied by the horses, the loop of the ropes H is hooked upon a h ook attached to the lower end of the tongue-rope I, which passes varound a pulley pi'voted in a slot in the tongue J, and has arin'g or loop attached to or formed upon its upper end, through which is passed the sliding-rope K, the ends of which are connected to the hold-back straps of the harness, so that as soon as the sled presses forward against the horses the brakes will be applied, and -with a force proportioned-to said pressure. The rope K and tongue-rope I', having a sliding connection, prevent/thc brake from being applied by the side pressure of the horses in turning. L is a frame which, whenY a box -is used, and it'isvdesired to apply the brak-es by hand, is hooked upon or otherwise attached to the forward end of the box E: -Mis a roller pivoted to the side bars of the frame L, and having a hookl attached to its middle part, upon which is hooked theloop of the ropes H, and the brakes are applied by revolvA ing the roller M by means of the crank N attached to the projecting end of .the axle of said roller. The roller mayA be held in place, applying the brakes 'with any desired force, by throwing the crank N over the catch or stop O attached to the sideof the frame L. `When the box -is not used, and it is desired to apply the brakes by hand, the loop of the ropes H is hooked upon a. hook attached to the middle of the roller P, which is pivoted to the forward part of the sled-frame. The roller P is operated to apply Athe brakes by attaching the crankNto the projecting end of the axle of said roller.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the brake-irons F, operating-ropes H, roller S, or its equivalent, tongue-rope Iand sliding-rope4 K, with each other, and with the tongue and frame of the sled, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.4

2. The combination of the brake-irons F, operating-ropes'H, roller S, or its equivalent, frame L and roller TM, with eachother, .andlwith thebox E and frame of the sled, substantially ns herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.V I

3. The combination of the brake-imm F, operating-ropes II, roller S, or its equivalent, and roller P, with nach other, and with tlw frame of the sled, substantially as herein shown nml described, nml for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the coiled springs Gr with the brake-irons F and operating-ropes H, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

II. W. SMITH,

Witnesses: B. C. SMITH.

N. G. EVANS,

A. C. JAMES,

A. VANDER NAILLENA ROBERT COLLINS,

}as to H. W. SMITH.

ns to B. C. SMITH. 

